Is your home feeling a little tight? Want to break free from your clutter? You can free up space in your drawers, closet, basement or garage and earn extra cash -- or a tax break. Take a look at this slide show and see how to clean house and make bank while doing it. The navigation begins to your right.
TECH: SELL IT
Tech devices need special handling because they contain landfill-unfriendly materials. Gazelle.com buys computers, cell phones, GPS devices and other electronics. You’ll receive a postage-paid box in which to ship your item, and payment arrives soon after via check or PayPal.
Before you sell (or donate or recycle), clear your devices of personal information. Take advantage of free downloadable programs, such as Eraser (available at www.cnet.com), to wipe clean your computer beforehand.
Sponsored Content
TECH: DONATE IT
Your used tech gadgets can get a second life. At Cristina.org, you can donate your computer to the National Cristina Foundation. It places your donation with a school or nonprofit that picks up your equipment.
You can donate cell phones to CallToProtect.org, which will sell the phone and donate the proceeds to groups that combat domestic violence.
Sponsored Content
TECH: RECYCLE IT
If you just want to get rid of some of your technology, other option is to recycle it. Visit MyGreenElectronics.com and check out the map of local recycling locations. Staples stores accept most devices; for larger items (monitors, printers and the like), you’ll pay a $10 fee.
Sponsored Content
PAPER: FILE IT
Create a system to sort, label and store the papers you need, and ditch the rest. To simplify future tax filing, keep purchase and year-end statements for stocks and mutual funds for at least three years after you sell the investment, and hang on to home-purchase and improvement info for six years after you sell your house.
Keep records of nondeductible IRA contributions until you withdraw the money.
Sponsored Content
PAPER: TRASH IT
Although it’s best to keep tax returns forever, you can ditch supporting tax documents after three years–that’s how long the IRS has to initiate an audit (six years if you’re self-employed).
Shred anything with account and personal information. Signing up for online banking can tame the paper tiger, but keep backup electronic records.
Sponsored Content
STUFF: SELL IT
Your "stuff" can fetch a pretty penny. You can sell items on eBay or Craigslist. To dispense with the hassle of dealing with customers, hire a group such as iSold It (www.877isoldit.com) to handle your sales (it has a $75 minimum and charges a commission of 33% to 40%). Or devote a Saturday to an old-fashioned yard sale.
You can increase the appeal by joining forces with neighbors. Or peddle your castoffs at a consignment shop.
Sponsored Content
STUFF: FREECYCLE IT
Post your old stuff on Freecycle.org. The site is especially convenient for large furniture and appliances. No money changes hands, but users usually pick up the items.
Sponsored Content
TECH & STUFF: DONATE IT
The Internet has made it easier to clean house of everything from clothing to a couch. Call the Salvation Army (800-728-7825) for a pickup, or go to www.satruck.com to find the nearest drop-off site.
You can mail smaller items to charities that will give them away. For books, visit BooksFirst.org; for shoes, Soles4Souls.org; for sports equipment, SportsGift.org.
Sponsored Content
TECH & STUFF: DEDUCT IT
When you donate, ask for a receipt. If you itemize deductions on your tax return, you can write off the fair value of your items.
Visit TurboTax’s free site, ItsDeductible.com, to find out how much your donations are worth.
Sponsored Content
-
Take Charge of Retirement Spending With This Simple StrategyTo make sure you're in control of retirement spending, rather than the other way around, allocate funds to just three purposes: income, protection and legacy.
-
Here's How To Get Organized And Work For YourselfWhether you’re looking for a side gig or planning to start your own business, it has never been easier to strike out on your own. Here is our guide to navigating working for yourself.
-
The Best Places to Retire in New Englandplaces to live Thinking about a move to New England for retirement? Here are the best places to land for quality of life, affordability and other criteria.
-
Best Cold Weather Places to Retireplaces to live Some like it hot; others not so much. Here are the 12 best places to retire if you can't stand the heat.
-
15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winterhome There are many ways to prepare your home for winter, which will help keep you safe and warm and save on housing and utility costs.
-
Hurricane Insurance Claims: 10 Things You Should KnowBecoming a Homeowner Hurricane damage? Know what’s covered, what isn’t and how to make the most of your policy if you need to file a claim.
-
5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation HomeWant a vacation home for remote work or a fun getaway? Here are locations with median prices under $400K.
-
10 Big U.S. Cities With the Cheapest Apartment Rentsplaces to live Apartment dwellers pay less than the national average in these cities with the cheapest rent.
-
The 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live in the U.S.Real estate From metro areas on both coasts to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, these are the most expensive cities to live in the U.S.
-
The 25 Cheapest Places to Live: U.S. Cities Editionplaces to live Have a look at the cheapest places to live in America for city dwellers. Is one of the cheapest places to live in the U.S. right for you?
